ML20134L704

Submits Justification for Continued Operation for Unlimited Number of Cycles W/One or More Cracked Core Spray Spargers, Per IE Bulletin 80-13, Cracking in Core Spray Spargers & NRC 850214 Ltr.Ge NEDO-30825 Cited

ML20134L704
Person / Time
Site:	Hatch
Issue date:	08/22/1985
From:	Gucwa L GEORGIA POWER CO.
To:	Stolz J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
1876N, IEB-80-13, NED-85-520, TAC-59539, NUDOCS 8509030385
Download: ML20134L704 (2)

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/ Georgia Power Company 33$ Piedmont Avenue Manta, Georg a 30308 ,

Telephone 404 526 6526 MA*n; Address:

Pott Off,ce Box 4545 Marta. Georg.a 30302

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h Georgia Power L T, Gucwa the southem electnc system

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? ' Manager Nuclear Engoeenng G' '

- und ch;ef Nuclear Engineer NED-85-520 1876N i

r1 August 22, 1985

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Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

~. Attention: Mr. John F. Stolz, Chief

Operating Reactors Branch No'.4 .

Division of Licensing U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555

, . NRC DOCKET 50-321 OPERATING LICENSE DPR-57

' EDWIN I. HATCH NUCLEAR PLANT UNIT 1 CORE SPRAY SPARGER CRACKING Gentlemen:

Pursuant to the requirements of I&E Bulletin 80-13, " Cracking in Core Spray Spargers", and NRC letter to Georgia Power Company (GPC) dated February 14, 1985 regarding the same subject for Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, Unit .1, GPC submits herein the justification for continued operation of Unit 1 for an unlimited number of cycles with one or more cracked core spray spargers.

During the fall 1984 refueling outage, visual inspection revealed the presence of a crack on the lower sparger arm near the 3500 T-box. The circumferential crack is located in the heat-affected zone of the sparger to T-box weld, approximately 1/8 inch from the weld. It spans at least 1800 of pipe circumference and is a maximum of 0.010 inch wide, i-General Electric Company report, NED0-30825, " Core Spray Sparger Crack Analysis for Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Power Station Unit 1" provides justification for continued " safe operation with the crack. The analysis demonstrates that even if' a 3600 circumferential through-wall crack is postulated, the sparger would remain intact, no safety concern would be created by loose parts, and the cooling function of the core spray system would not be degraded. It was therefore concluded that the analysis is applicable to and conservative for all subsequent reloads (pg. 4-5/4-6).

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f,.'~L' Georgia Power A Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Attention: Mr. John F. Stolz, Chief Operating Reactors Branch No. 4 August 22, 1985 Page Two During the refueling outage currently scheduled to begin by November 30, 1985, GPC will reinspect the core spray spargers as specified in I&E Bulletin 80-13, including the weld area where the crack was previously identified. In addition, as required by your Safety Evaluation Report dated February 14, 1985, GPC will evaluate the effectiveness of the clamping device which was applied to the cracked sparger. Results of these evaluations will be conrnunicated to your office.

However, based upon the analysis described in NED0-30825 and the nature of the conclusions in that report, i.e., "the relevant phenomena do not depend on the distribution of the injected spray through the nozzles but on the injection of coolant into the upper plenum" (pg. 4-3), GPC respectfully requests that your office re-issue the Safety Evaluation Report to allow operation of Hatch Unit 1 based on the conditions outlined herein .

Please contact this office at any time if you require any further information.

Yours truly, L. T. Gucwa WRM/mb xc: Mr. J. T. Beckham, Jr.

Mr. H. C. Nix, Jr.

Dr. J. N. Grace (NRC-Region II)

Senior Resident Inspector NRC Office of Inspection and Enforcement Division of Reactor Operations Inspection (Washington)

-700775

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